Maternal circulating status of vitamin D, adiponectin and lipid ratios in gestational diabetes mellitus

Background. The present research was an attempt to assess maternal serum values of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 [25(OH)D3], adiponectin and the lipid ratios and comparison of their associations with insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods. It was conducted on 100 participants including 49 women with GDM and 51 normal pregnant women at 24–28 weeks of gestation. Maternal fasting serum values of glucose, 25(OH)D3, lipid profile, adiponectin and insulin were assessed and the lipid ratios and biomarkers of resistance and sensitivity to insulin were calculated. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results. Current research revealed that levels of 25(OH) D3 were significantly lower in GDM than in normal pregnancy. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that GDM was associated negatively with 25(OH)D3, HDL-C and adiponectin and positively with the lipid ratios. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only values of 25(OH)D3 were independently associated negatively with the insulin resistance (P = 0.012). Conclusions. Levels of 25(OH)D3 were significantly decreased in GDM compared with normal pregnancy. On the other hand, 25(OH)D3 had a significant negative correlation with insulin resistance which was stronger than the lipid ratios and adiponectin

Effect of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on the lipid profile and lipid ratios in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A clinical trial study

Background: Evidence suggests that Oxidative stress has been shown to plays an important role in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) etiology. On the other hand, women with GDM are at an increased risk for complications such as endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Objective: To investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on the maternal circulating values of lipid profile and lipid ratios in women with GDM. Materials and Methods: Sixty women with GDM were participated in the present study. The ALA group (n = 30) received ALA (100 mg/day) and the placebo group (n = 30) received cellulose acetate (100 mg/day) for eight wk. The maternal circulating values of hemoglobin A1C, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), non-HDL-C, and lipid ratios were assessed before and after the intervention. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The values of TyG index (p < 0.001), TG (p = 0.006), TG/HDL-C (p = 0.003), and AIP (p = 0.005) decreased significantly in the ALA group after the intervention. Conclusion: Maternal circulating values of TyG index, TG, TG/HDL, AIP decreased after eight wk of ALA supplementation in women with GDM. Key words: Lipoic acid, Gestational diabetes, Lipids, Triglycerides, Cholesterol

Correlations between biomarkers of oxidative stress, glycemic control and insulin resistance in women with type 2 diabetes

Background. The main characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance. Enhanced oxidative stress owing to increased oxygen free radicals and/or reduced antioxidant defense has very important roles in T2DM development and also most of its complications. The aim of the current study was to evaluate correlations between biomarkers of oxidative stress, glycemic control and insulin resistance in women with T2DM. Materials and methods. Seventy nine women with T2DM were included in the current study and fasting blood samples were collected. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c); glucose; oxidative stress biomarkers including malodialdehyde, 8-isoprostane, catalase and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. The adiponectin/leptin (A/L) ratio and the homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function (HOMA-B) were calculated. The results were considered significant when the p-value was less than 0.05. Results. Serum levels of TAC showed a significant positive correlation with the A/L ratio (r = 0.261, p = 0.02). A significant negative correlation was observed between values of HbA1c and TAC (r = –0.300, p = 0.007). However, HbA1c correlated positively with 8-isoprostane (r = 0.236, p = 0.036). Values of HOMA-B correlated negatively with values of HbA1c (r = –0.327, p = 0.003). Serum levels of 8-isoprostane were significantly higher in obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) women than in non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m2) women (p = 0.032). Values of catalase (p = 0.022) and HOMA-B (p = 0.009) were significantly lower in women with HbA1c ≥ 7.6% compared with women with HbA1c < 7.6%. Conclusions. In summary, chronic hyperglycemia results in oxidative stress. This situation might lead to less beta cells function. In addition, low levels of the A/L ratio were associated with increased oxidative stress

Tumor necrosis factor- α, adiponectin and their ratio in gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: It has been suggested that inflammation might be implicated in the gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complications, including insulin resistance. The aims of the current study were to explore maternal circulating values of TNF-α, adiponectin and the adiponectin/TNF-α ratio in women with GDM compared with normal pregnancy and their relationships with metabolic syndrome biomarkers. Methods: Forty women with GDM and 40 normal pregnant women were included in the study. Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods were used to measure serum levels of TNF-α and total adiponectin. Results: Women with GDM had higher values of TNF-α (225.08±27.35 vs 115.68±12.64 pg/ml, p<0.001) and lower values of adiponectin (4.50±0.38 vs 6.37±0.59 µg/ml, p=0.003) and the adiponectin/TNF-α ratio (4.31±0.05 vs 4.80±0.07, P<0.001) than normal pregnant women. The adiponectin/TNF-α ratio showed negative correlations with insulin resistance (r=-0.68, p<0.001) and triglyceride (r=-0.39, p=0.014) and a positive correlation with insulin sensitivity (r=0.69, p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that values of the adiponectin /TNF-α ratio were independently associated with insulin resistance. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that GDM was negatively associated with adiponectin /TNF-α ratio. Conclusions: In summary, the adiponectin/TNF-α ratio decreased significantly in GDM compared with normal pregnancy. The ratio might be an informative biomarker for assessment of pregnant women at high risk of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia and for diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring aims in GDM

A new free-wave technique for measuring materials dielectric and magnetic properties at millimetre wavelengths

The complex permittivity and permeability of materials can be measured by different techniques, but none of the conventional methods is appropriate for measuring lossy materials at millimetre wavelengths. In this thesis a new free-wave technique for measuring the properties of lossy materials at these frequencies is introduced. Free-wave and conventional measurement techniques are reviewed. The sources of error in free-wave measurements are explained, and ways to reduce their impact from the measurement results are discussed. Various methods for calculating the sample properties from the measured parameters are introduced, and the dependence of the sample properties on these parameters are studied. The total error in the sample properties is investigated, and the optimum way of using the measured data is presented. The use of time gating for removing unwanted reflections from the measurement results is explained, and the gating error due to discarding higher order terms of multiple reflections within the slab for an ideal time domain gate is calculated. The gating error for a real gate is simulated and compared with the calculated values for an ideal gate. Removing multiple reflections within the sample by the time gating technique is introduced, and the minimum electrical length of the sample is estimated. It is also shown that ignoring multiple reflections within the sample improves the total accuracy. An angular spectrum model considering the measurement in the near-field region is introduced. The accuracy improvement delivered by this model is demonstrated by simulation techniques, and the minimum antenna distance to ignore the wavefront curvature error is estimated. The key parameters in constructing a compact single-pass system for measuring material properties in the range of 26.5-40 GHz are presented, and examples of the results obtained from measurements of ferrite and dielectric samples are presented and discussed. Finally the achievements obtained in this project are summarised, and further work to improve free-wave measurement techniques is suggested

Knowledge Sharing Among Call Center Workers In Cyberjaya

This study investigates the application of knowledge sharing among call centers workers in Cyberjaya, and their associated offices in Kuala Lumpur, and the techniques for improving it. A knowledge sharing model is developed , and its validity is verified by conducting a survey in the call centers

Serum levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in preeclampsia

Background : Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to assess serum levels of isoprostane F2α, malondialdehyde and total homocysteine in preeclamptic women compared with normal pregnant women. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed. The patients consisted of 30 preeclamptic women. The normal group consisted of 30 healthy pregnant women. Serum level of malondialdehyde was measured by colorimetric method. Isoprostane F2α and homocysteine levels were assessed using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Serum levels of isoprostane F2α, malondialdehyde and homocysteine were significantly higher in preeclamptic group than in normal pregnant women (p < 0.05). All of the biomarkers were significantly higher in women with severe preeclampsia than in mild preeclamptic women (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that lipid peroxidation caused by oxidative stress might be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia